1981 Map of Payson

About this map

The Mogollon Rim dominates the upper reaches of this 1981 survey, where the high country of the Sitgreaves National Forest and Coconino National Forest drops sharply toward the desert transition zone below. Central to this landscape is Payson, the hub for surrounding mountain communities like Strawberry and Pine. The map illustrates a complex drainage system where the East Verde River and Tonto Creek carve through the foothills of the Mazatzal Mountains. Local industry and heritage are represented by the Sunflower Mine and Gowan Mine, while the expansion of remote residential settlements is evident at Tonto Village and Star Valley. The presence of the Mazatzal Wilderness and Pine Mountain Wilderness highlights the preservation of this interior Arizona backcountry during the late twentieth century.